Stockings 08

Having my parents here was fun... they did stockings with us!

my mom brought her stockings from home.

The kids had set out donuts for santa.... it is so funny we never really focused on Santa.... Christmas has been abut Jesus.  Haley asked Jim if Santa was real and he told her no.  She got upset and began to argue with him telling us that santa is real and that if she took the polar express she would hear the bell.  It was so cute... so now, because of the Polar Express... she thinks we are all scrooges.  It is sweet and I loved watching her excitement when she saw that santa ate some of the donuts she had laid out.  She also laid out food for the reindeer. :)

Haley surprised the whole family with pictures in our stockings... she drew each of us our own picture and placed in it our stocking a while back.  She is so sweet.

I will post christmas pictures once I down load them... these past pictures are from my moms camera.

New traditions

Here in a new state we had to start some new traditions..

We decided that on Christmas eve we would open ONE present and have dinner at Scott and Jenny's.  

Then on Christmas morning, we would have breakfast and do all day hang out stuff at our home... Next year we may switch it up a bit... but this year that is what we did.

Random things from this past week or so

Scott and Jenny moved into their first house!  it is beautiful!  They live so close... I love it!
Jenny in her great room.... kitchen opening up to the living room.  She has nice hardwood floors...

Scott and Jenny at dinner for my moms birthday.

My parents left today.. this morning... the above picture is at her birthday dinner.  When they arrived, it was the day after her birthday so we went to dinner to celebrate it with her.

Jonah was a huge papa fan this week.  He followed papa everywhere!  Papa.... Joe misses you already!

Time flies

I cant believe it is almost Christmas. 

Sorry I havent blogged in a while... to be honest... it doesnt feel that long ago.  

My parents and grandparents got here on Wednesday, the 17th. 

Hunter started preschool!!!  He got into a Georgia Pre-K program.  That means he goes for free.  The Georgia lottery pays for preschool here.  He REALLY likes it, but it doesnt compare to Mrs. Jones.  :).  She still wins our hearts.... (Mrs. Jones was his first preschool teacher in California).  Hunter really is a social kid.  He NEEDS to be around peers... I dont know how to explain it... but he just needs that contact with kids.  He needs to play and get that socialization we cant offer at home.  Does that make sense?  

The kids last day of school for Winter Break was Thursday and they dont go back to school until the Tuesday after New Years... Kinda cool.  

I am going to start subbing in January.  Only at Haley's school.... :)   I am excited :)

Scott and Jenny moved into their house yesterday.  It was great to have my dad here to help them.  Their house is three minutes from our home.  Their house is beautiful and I am so happy for them!!!  It is a split foyer like our home.  (That is pretty popular here in Georgia).  They have a privacy fence :)  which is NOT common here.  I am a little jealous of their fence.... :)  not really, but I would love to have one for our dogs.  

Our plans for Christmas...

Christmas eve we plan to have dinner at Scott and Jenny's.  On Christmas day we are having everyone here for breakfast and gifts and then at 3pm we are having a big meal thing at my aunt pam's.  

One funny story... 

i took jonah to a library craft thing last tuesday.  there... there was a fifteen year old helper who just fell in love with joe.  after about an hour there, the girl turns to me and says, "are you married to a skater?"  not knowing where she was going with this.... i answered, "no.... why do you ask?"  she nervously giggled then answered, "you talk like a skater."

Our Tree...

So we got a fake tree this year.... we thought we were getting something bigger... but once we brought it home and set it up... it wasnt quite what we had in mind.  First.... branches fell off :).  Second... I had to use the phrase... "See that wire sticking out, be careful).  
On top of the tree looking so.... Charlie Brownish.... my back was SCREAMING!  SO I wasnt having fun.  (Look at the stocking holders.... they are trains).  
The kids.. however, had a BLAST and love our tree!!!  Which totally makes it all worth it!

Jonah loved to take the ornaments down once we got them up!  Fun.  He also loved to put them in his mouth.  We got Hunt's Thomas the train table out and set the fake tree up on it.  That way it isnt right on the floor within Joe's reach.  He can still touch it... but it is at least not too easily accessible.  

Believe it or not the tree is 6 ft.  We have tall ceilings.... The tree is a bit thin :)  and have WAY to many ornaments and lights on it... but you know what... my kids love it anyways!

Merry Christmas!

When it is cold outside...

Jonah loves to help with laundry...  he also LOVES this blanket Jane made him.  LOVES it.... he carries it around with him.....  His second favorite is the blanket Deanne gave him.... :)  they are both silky and small.

Playing trains :) with polly pockets and Littlest Pet Shop

Painting

And the kids love to put on shows.... This particular evening Haley sang songs from High School Musical.  EVERY doll in the house came out for the show.

Jumping for Joy

At the mall of Georgia they have a place called, Jumping For Joy.  It is like Jumping Jacks in Rancho... but they have this one section where you ride these --- things.. Jonah just liked pushing them around.  I didnt get any pictures of Jumping.... I dont know why.  The places heater was broken so it was FREEZING there!  So maybe I forgot.... maybe my brain froze... 

Family lunch at Haley's school

Haley with her teacher...  I love her teacher...

Hunter got to come to lunch.  They invited all families for lunch with their kids.... It was fun (hectic, but fun).  

Hunter loved seeing her sisters classroom.  Next year it could be his class...

The OTHER teacher in haley's class.... She held Jonah for me.  Yes it was me and the two boys at Haley's lunch.

Yummy Henrietta

I am going to attempt youTube soon so hopefully I can download video to my blog.  This was a comical event, tons of fun!  And the Turkey even turned out EXCELLENT

We found the neck!

Both Jenny and I were new to this.  We have never seen the inside of a Turkey.  It was gross.  
We cooked a 20 pound turkey!  Yes... that is a LOT.  The advice we were given at the store was to buy a turkey  where you calculate how many people were eating.... then you get a 1/2 a pound for each person.... so we counted all three kids as one adult (if that) and us four = 5 which = a 2 and 1/2 pound turkey.... 

Scott played Go Fish with the kids.  It was really cute!

Jenny and Scott brought the kids balloon ball things and Jonah had a blast with them.

Family pictures in our backyard

It was a beautiful day!!!

After over FOUR hours of cooking the Turkey... we finally brought it out of the oven... it was beautiful :).  

Really... I think Jenny and I were surprised at how easy it was to cook Henrietta.  The picture below, I am pointing to the popper thing that pops up when it is done.

All our food.... We made it all!!!

Even Hunter ate Henrietta

After dinner.... we cleaned up and packed up all our left overs.  We played games and ate dessert (Pumpkin pie, Cheese cake, rice crisspy treats, and chocolate pudding).  

This is a picture of how much turkey was left over on the plater AFTER we ate.  Plus there was more in the kitchen....